India-27th Session May 2017-Sexual abuse

Para 112) A 24x7 toll free Women Helpline has been established throughout India to facilitate crisis and non-crisis intervention to women seeking support, which assisted over 7 million beneficiaries. National level Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences has been established to monitor and track time-bound investigation in sexual assault cases. National level database on sexual offenders was launched in 2018 to facilitate investigation and tracking of sexual offenders across the country by law enforcement agencies. A cyber-crime portal has also been launched for citizens to report obscene content. In order to make public transportation safe for women, Indian Railways has approved a plan to install Internet Protocol (IP) based Video Surveillance System at stations. Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/Other Crimes, 2018 provides for compensation to women victims of identified gender-based crimes and victims of child sexual abuse. SheBox, an online complaint management system has been established, to provide a single window access to every woman for registration of complaints related to sexual harassment at workplace. Para 114) India is committed to continue its efforts to protect children from sexual exploitation, corporal punishment, child marriage, and child labour and to support child victims of sexual offences. Para 115) The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 was amended in 2019 to further protect children from offences such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, cybercrime and pornography. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Rules, 2020 (POCSO Rules) were also notified to effectively implement the amended provisions. Para 116) The Government introduced a scheme in 2019 to set up 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) including 389 exclusive POCSO Courts across the nation for time bound completion of trials relating to sexual offences. As of May 2022, 726 Fast Special Track Courts and 408 e-POCSO Courts have become functional. The Central Bureau of Investigation has joined the international child sexual exploitation database of INTERPOL to bolster its fight against sex abuse of minors and help in identification of victims and abusers.